Chris Griffis Memorial Test Explained

The Chris Griffis Memorial Test is a two-day test event for Road to Indy racing series. The testing is conducted after the regular season. The test is used by teams to test new drivers as well as for the organization to test new cars for the following season.

Chris Griffis

Chris Griffis (11 May 196612 September 2011) was a former team manager for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. Griffis started his career at Patrick Racing, working with Gordon Johncock, Emerson Fittipaldi among others. In 1990, Griffis joined Chip Ganassi Racing before moving to King Racing in 1993 and later joining Panther Racing in 2002. At Panther Racing, Griffis was the crew chief of Mark Taylor winning the 2003 Indy Lights title.[1]

Griffis collapsed and died after a basketball game. He was survived by his wife Mari and daughters (Clair and Sophia). Griffis was buried in Akron, Indiana.[2]

Fastest times

Year Indy Lights Indy Pro 2000 USF2000
2011 Peter Dempsey (1:20.6546)[3] Jack Hawksworth (1:25.431)[4] Scott Hargrove (1:29.6937)
2012 Zach Veach (1:19.2209)[5] Spencer Pigot (1:24.859)[6] Matthew Di Leo (1:27.623)[7]
2013 Alexandre Baron (1:15.726)[8] Alfonso Celis Jr. (1:20.490)[9] Aaron Telitz (1:23.283)[10]
2014 Spencer Pigot (1:19.8039)[11] Patricio O'Ward (1:23.6525)[12] Nico Jamin (1:26.3304)[13]
2015 Kyle Kaiser (1:54.2235)[14] Patricio O'Ward (2:04.7677)[15] Nikita Lastochkin (2:09.5454)[16]
2016 Garett Grist (1:14.7396)[17] Victor Franzoni (1:22.6179)[18] Neil Verhagen (1:24.8661)[19]
2017 Nico Jamin (1:25.7173)[20] Oliver Askew (1:29.8142)[21] Darren Keane (1:25.1424)[22]
2018 Ryan Norman (1:14.9283) Darren Keane (1:19.2971) Hunter McElrea (1:24.5064)
2019 Rinus VeeKay (1:15.4790) Hunter McElrea (1:19.4553) Christian Rasmussen (1:24.9311)
2021 Benjamin Pedersen (1:25.4619) Louis Foster (1:30.4354) Jagger Jones (1:35.4672)
2022 Danial Frost (1:16.2526) Jack William Miller (1:21.9745) Simon Sikes (1:25.8876)
2023 Louis Foster (1:14.8432) Simon Sikes (1:21.8032) Hudson Schwartz (1:25.8372)

Track

Period Track Layout Length
2011–2012 2.5134 miles
2013 2.38 miles
2014–2019, 2021–present 2.439 miles

Drivers who tested but not raced

The below table contains drivers who tested during the Chris Griffis Memorial Test in Indy Lights, USF Pro 2000 or USF2000 but not competed in any of the classes.

Year Series Driver Team
2012USF2000 Joe RuchAfterburner Autosport
Yukio DuzanowskiBelardi Auto Racing
Nick Neri
Michael AdamsJAY Motorsports
Kevin AabolJDC MotorSports
Antti Buri[23]
Tristan ViidasPabst Racing Services
Star Mazda Jose Carlos Sandoval
Renan GuerraJuncos Racing
Andre SolanoTeam GDT
Luca OrlandiTeam Pelfrey
Chris Yano
Indy Lights Nick McBride[24] Sam Schmidt Motorsports
2014USF2000 Jordan BernloehrAfterburner Autosport
Christian Ross
Indy Lights Parker KligermanSchmidt Peterson Motorsports
2015USF2000 Chase OwenAfterburner Autosport
Cameron HillJDC MotorSports
Chase PelletierTeam Pelfrey
Max MallinenSWAN Motorsports
Pro Mazda Henrique BaptistaTeam Pelfrey
2016USF2000 Leandro WoltherArmsUp Motorsports
Ryan Norberg
Hugo de SadeleerPabst Racing
Indy Lights
2017USF2000 Zoey Edenholm BN Racing
Elliott Finlayson
Justin Gordon Exclusive Autosport
Jaden Conwright Team BENIK
Pro Mazda Leonard Hoogenboom BN Racing
2018USF2000 Tyler O'ConnorCape Motorsports
Ryan BjerkeDEForce Racing
Logan CussonPabst Racing
2019USF2000 TJ ThompsonHMD Motorsports
Alexander KoreibaJay Howard Driver Development
Jonathan KotykLegacy Autosport
Rick BouthoornPabst Racing
Harry VoigtTeam E Jay Racing
IP2000 Raoul HymanExclusive Autosport
Indy Lights Egor OrudzhevAndretti Autosport
2021USF2000 TJ ThompsonJay Howard Driver Development
IP2000 Arias DeukmedjianDeuk Spine Racing
Nicholas RiversJay Howard Driver Development
Blake UptonTurn 3 Motorsport
2022USF2000 Jason PribylTurn 3 Motorsport
Matthew ReesVRD Racing
USFP2000 Callum VoisinJay Howard Driver Development
Raoul HymanTJ Speed Motorsports
2023USF2000 Michael BoyiadzisJay Howard Driver Development
Jason PribylPabst Racing
Connor RobertsTeam Roberts

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sam Schmidt Motorsports Indy Lights Team Manager Chris Griffis Dies. Motor Authority. 28 October 2017. 29 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171029013411/http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1066251_sam-schmidt-motorsports-indy-lights-team-manager-chris-griffis-dies. dead.
  2. Web site: Christopher A. Griffis. IndyStar. 28 October 2017.
  3. Web site: Drivers at test looking to impress. IndyCar. https://web.archive.org/web/20111101154557/http://www.indycar.com/news/show/55-izod-indycar-series/50946-drivers-at-test-looking-to-impress. 1 November 2011. live. 29 October 2017.
  4. Web site: 2011 Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear Official Series Test. Pro Mazda. 28 October 2017.
  5. Web site: Mazda Road to Indy Open Test - Indy Lights. IndyCar. 28 October 2017. 29 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171029121029/http://media.indycar.com/pdf/2012/filseries-results-pcomb.pdf. dead.
  6. Web site: 2012 Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear Official Series Test Session. Pro Mazda. 28 October 2017.
  7. Web site: 2012 IMS MRTI Test USF2000 Thursday Final Practice. USF2000. 28 October 2017.
  8. Web site: Frenchman Alex Baron Leads the Way for Belardi in Testing. Indy Lights. 28 October 2017. 29 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171029014642/https://www.indylights.com/news/frenchman-alex-baron-leads-the-way-for-belardi-in-testing. dead.
  9. Web site: Mexican Teenager Alfonso Celis Tops Test Times for Juncos Racing. Pro Mazda. 28 October 2017.
  10. Web site: USF2000: Rookie Telitz Tops USF2000 Times for Afterburner Autosport. More Front Wing. 28 October 2017.
  11. Web site: 9/14/2014 INDIANAPOLIS GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT PRACTICE 3. Indy Lights. 28 October 2017. 29 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171029014201/https://www.indylights.com/results/2014-season. dead.
  12. Web site: 9/14/2014 INDIANAPOLIS GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT PRACTICE 3. Pro Mazda. 28 October 2017.
  13. Web site: 9/14/2014 INDIANAPOLIS GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT PRACTICE 3. USF2000. 28 October 2017.
  14. Web site: 11/21/2015 CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS TEST SESSION 3. Indy Lights. 28 October 2017. 29 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171029014038/https://www.indylights.com/results/2015-season. dead.
  15. Web site: 11/22/2015 CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS TEST SESSION 4. Pro Mazda. 28 October 2017.
  16. Web site: 11/22/2015 CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS TEST SESSION 5. USF2000. 28 October 2017.
  17. Web site: 10/9/2016 INDIANAPOLIS GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT TEST SESSION 8. Indy Lights. 28 October 2017. 29 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171029014424/https://www.indylights.com/results/2016-season. dead.
  18. Web site: 10/9/2016 INDIANAPOLIS GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT TEST SESSION 5. Pro Mazda. 28 October 2017.
  19. Web site: 10/9/2016 INDIANAPOLIS GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT TEST SESSION 5. USF2000. 28 October 2017.
  20. Web site: 10/21/2017 INDIANAPOLIS GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT TEST SESSION 2. Indy Lights. 28 October 2017. 29 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171029014103/https://www.indylights.com/results/2017-season/chris-griffis-memorial-test. dead.
  21. Web site: 10/22/2017 INDIANAPOLIS GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT TEST SESSION 5. Pro Mazda. 28 October 2017.
  22. Web site: 10/22/2017 INDIANAPOLIS GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT TEST SESSION 5. USF2000. 28 October 2017.
  23. Web site: USF2000 Graduates Shine in Star Mazda and Firestone Indy Lights. USF2000. 28 October 2017.
  24. Web site: Indy Lights entrants. IndyCar. 28 October 2017. 21 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121021005854/http://media.indycar.com/pdf/2012/MRTI_Open_Test_FIL_Entry_List.pdf. dead.

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